Shloka 2
Tilā-Dāna, Dīpa-Dāna, and Nitya-Jalapradāna
Yama–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda) | तिलदान-दीपदान-नित्यजलप्रदान (यम-ब्राह्मण संवाद
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । देवक्याश्रैव संवाद महर्षेनरिदस्थ च
bhīṣma uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṁ purātanam | devakyāś caiva saṁvādaṁ maharṣeḥ nāradasya ca ||
Bhīṣma dit : «En cette matière aussi, les sages invoquent un antique précédent : le dialogue entre Dame Devakī et le grand ṛṣi Nārada.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma frames his instruction by appealing to authoritative precedent: ethical guidance is strengthened when supported by an ancient, respected narrative (itihāsa), here the Devakī–Nārada dialogue.
Bhīṣma, speaking to Yudhiṣṭhira, introduces an old illustrative story and specifies its source: a conversation between Devakī and the sage Nārada, which will be used to clarify the present dharma-question.